BR112013002839B1 - SENSOR DEVICE FOR END OF SERVICE LIFE INDICATION - Google Patents

Abstract

method and apparatus for integrating chemical and environmental sensors in an air purification filter through a reusable sensor column. the present invention relates to a sensor device which is provided to provide the end-of-service indication for an air purification filter. the sensor device has a cylindrical compartment for inserting a filter bed into an absorbent bed, and can be removed from the bed and reused at the end of the filter service. one or more sensors inside the compartment are configured to detect the physical / chemical characteristics of the air that passes through the absorbent bed, and to provide the data associated with a sensor conditioning plate inside the compartment. the sensor conditioning plate processes the received data and conditions the data as desired. the compartment can be received in a cavity formed in the filter bed. a reception structure receives the compartment in it. data from one or more sensors can be used to calculate the predicted filter end of life. other modalities are described and claimed.

Description

Descriptive Report of the Invention Patent for SENSOR DEVICE FOR INDICATION OF END OF SERVICE LIFE.

Cross Reference to Related Applications [001] This is a non-provisional pending provisional patent application under serial number 61 / 434,755, filed on January 20, 2011, a non-provisional pending provisional patent application under serial number 61 / 371,427, deposited on August 6, 2010, the totality of provisional orders is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Field of Invention [002] The present description refers to a method of integrating chemical and environmental sensors in an air purification filter, as an End of Service Indicator (hereinafter referred to as ESLI) and / or Indicator residual life (hereinafter referred to as RLI), and more particularly, a sensor column structure for housing a plurality of sensors that provide the residual life indication and the end of service indication of a purification cartridge of air.

Background of the Invention [003] Air purification filters typically do not have an unlimited service life. End users of air purification devices need to handle the change cartridge with objective information, data or an end of life indicator (ESLI). ESLIs can provide important safety information to users of an air purification device, particularly where the purification device is being used to remove toxic gases from the air being breathed. Commonly used approaches to ESLI include passive and active solutions. Active solutions often involve the use of chemical sensors

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2/23 electronic components that are integrated in the filter sorbent bed. However, the placement of chemical sensors in the sorbent bed is problematic, as the sensors can undesirably disturb the air flow in the filter. As a result, the sensor cannot detect the concentration of impurities effectively for most of the air flow, which can result in false signals. In addition, the presence of the sensor inside the sorbent bed can adversely affect the resulting air purification and result in a shorter service life of the filter cartridge.

[004] In addition, a built-in sensor approach requires the sensor to be placed together with the cartridge when the cartridge's service life ends, which greatly increases costs. The incorporation of sensor in the sorbent bed can also increase the chance of improper bed packaging. In addition, it can be technically difficult to mount multiple sensors at various locations on the bed.

[005] Therefore, there is a need for an improved sensor design embedded in a sorbent bed for use in air purification filter devices.

Description Summary [006] A device and method are presented for incorporating a chemical sensor into a filter's sorbent bed to provide information about the condition and usefulness of a filter used in a toxic environment. The design includes a device and method for both disposable chemical sensors and non-disposable sensors to provide sensor technology with enhanced reliability.

[007] A sensor device is presented to indicate the end of life of the filter service. The design may include a sensor column compartment for insertion into a sorbent bed of a filter cartridge. A chemical sensor can be arranged inside the

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3/23 rear of the sensor column compartment. A sensor conditioning plate, powered by a power source, can be provided to condition and control the sensor and process the sensor data associated with the sensor column compartment. The column compartment of the sensor can be positioned inside a cavity formed in the filter bed. In one embodiment, the sensor device includes a receiving structure, which is positioned in the filter bed cavity for insertion of the sensor column compartment in it. The sensor device is particularly useful as a proactive ESLI.

[008] A method is described for monitoring the end of service life of a filter using the sensor device described above. In one embodiment, the method includes attaching the sensor column compartment to a respirator or ventilator inhalation valve holder, and inserting the sensor column compartment into a receiving frame to attach the filter to a mask. This can allow the opening of the sensor to be aligned with the opening of the column housing of the sensor.

[009] The method and device described can be particularly useful as a proactive ESLI for an air purification filter. The benefits of providing such a proactive end-of-life indicator are that the residual life indication (that is, the time remaining for disclosure) can be provided long before the actual contaminant disclosure time. This can provide a user with a much greater safety margin to safely end work tasks before requiring the release of a contaminated area. Brief Description of the Drawings [0010] As an example, a specific embodiment of the device described will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

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4/23 to FIG. 1A is a side view of an example embodiment of the sensor column shown;

FIG. 1B is a top plan view of the sensor column of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the sensor column considered along line 2-2;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a filter containing the sensor column of FIG. 1A in it;

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the sensor column of FIG. 1A inserted in a host cartridge attached to a mask body;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of an inner part of an empty filter cartridge showing a receiving structure for receiving the sensor column of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 6 is an exploded isometric view of the sensor column of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 7 is an alternative embodiment of the sensor column of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 8 is a graph of the experimental data representative of the performance of the sensor column as an end of service (ESLI) indicator for a hydrogen sulfide filter cartridge; and, FIG. 9 is a graph of the sensor concentration detected over time, which includes the ESLI forecast at different times and a measured revelation.

Detailed Description [0011] A device and method are presented to provide the reusable sensors within a sorbent bed of an air purification cartridge. With reference to FIG. 1A, the device can be a sensor device or a column 10 that has one with

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5/23 column compartment of the hollow cylindrical sensor 14 that supports a plurality of different types of sensors 20 that can be mounted in a variety of positions along the compartment 14. In one embodiment, the compartment 14 can be mounted on a cartridge filter 60 (FIG. 4), in a lower part 12 of compartment 14 before coupling filter cartridge 60 to a respirator 100. In alternative embodiments, the sensor column compartment 14 or sensor 20 includes a mechanical connection for the attachment to a respirator 100 inhalation valve holder. Alternatively, the sensor column 10 can be attached to the filter cartridge 60. If desired, the sensor column 10 can be positioned inside the filter cartridge 60 so that that the sensors 20 arranged in or in the column of the sensor 10 can detect the conditions in the sorbent bed 62 of the filter and can provide the information to a processing device that can use the info information detected to assess the filter cartridge's residual service life.

[0012] The sensor column 10 can be received inside a cavity formed in the sorbent bed 62 of filter cartridge 60 when the cartridge is mounted in the cartridge host 100. With the correct assembly of the cartridge, each of the sensor elements 20 in the column of the sensor 10 is positioned inside the bed or adjacent to the bed, thus allowing the elements of the sensor 20 to detect the fundamental operational information regarding the passage of air through them. Examples of such operational information include contaminant concentration (s) 22, air humidity 26, air temperature 24 and air flow rate 28 at different locations in the bed. A non-limiting example listing of gases for which concentration information may be important includes formaldehyde, cyclohexane, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, dioxide

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6/23 of sulfur, chlorine, hydrogen chloride and hydrogen cyanide. The information provided by sensors 20 can be used to provide the user with warnings regarding residual life and end of service life.

[0013] As noted, the sensor column 10 can be mounted on a cartridge host 100 (for example, a mask, a motorized air purification respirator (PAPR), a cartridge adapter). In addition, a plurality of sensors 20 can be mounted in different locations or on the sensor column 10. In one embodiment, the sensor column 10 is inserted into a filter cartridge 60 that has a host sensor receptacle that, in one The embodiment includes a receiving structure 50, as shown in FIG. 5. It will be noted that the described arrangement allows the sensor column 10 to be reused when the cartridge 60 reaches its service life and is discarded. Thus, the cartridge 60 can be disassembled and the sensor column 10 removed before discarding the cartridge.

[0014] In addition to being able to be inserted / removed as previously indicated, the column of sensor 10 serves to position one or more sensors 20 in a variety of desired locations within the sorbent bed 62, thus providing a wide range of information for the calculation of residual life time and the end-of-service indicator compared to previous built-in designs. As will be described in more detail later, the sensor column 10 can also function as an assembly guide to facilitate the correct assembly of a cartridge in a respirator or other host 100 (for example, a mask, an air adapter). cartridge, or powered air purifiers).

[0015] As can be seen in FIGs. 1A, 1B, 2, 4 and 6, the sensor column 10 can include a compartment 14, which in the illustrated embodiment is a hollow cylindrical tube. The sensor column 10 can have a

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7/23 plurality of sensors 20 mounted on or inside the compartment 14 in a variety of locations along the length of the compartment. An example non-limiting list of such sensors 20 includes a humidity sensor 26, a temperature sensor 24, a flow rate sensor 28, as well as a set of chemical sensors 22. Other types of sensors can also be used, such as will be observed by the person skilled in the art.

[0016] In an example embodiment, the sensor column 10 has three chemical sensors 22a, 22b, 22c mounted in positions spaced from each other along a side wall of compartment 14. In addition, a humidity sensor 26 and a temperature sensor 24 is mounted on top part 13 of column 10 (FIG. 1B), while a flow rate sensor 28 is mounted on bottom 12 of column 10. Sensors 20 can be contained within, and protected by the sensor column compartment 14. Thus, while the sensors 20 can themselves access the environmental and / or toxic conditions outside the column compartment of the sensor 14, through different openings 16 in the compartment 14, the internal parts of the sensor column 10 are protected from such exposure. Chemical sensors 22 can be isolated from each other by a plurality of sensor seals 30. These seals 30 can include suitable sealing members or vapor barriers effective to prevent contaminants from bypassing the sorbent bed 62 along the wall column sensor 14, and to isolate conditioning plate 40 (FIG. 2) and other sensors from chemical contaminants that can corrode the plate / sensors and / or affect its operation. In one embodiment, seals 30 comprise elastomeric O-rings.

[0017] With reference to FIG. 2, a signal conditioning plate from sensor 40 can be positioned inside the compartment

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8/23 to function as a sensor conditioner, a sensor controller, a sensor signal preconditioner for the chemical, humidity, temperature and flow rate sensors 20. In one embodiment, the conditioning plate signal 40 is a printed circuit board. The signal conditioning plate 40 can control the operation of the sensors 20 and can process the data received from the sensors 20. For example, and without limitation, the signal conditioning plate 40 can control the sensors, can process the signals from the sensor, can execute the associated filter's residual service life calculation instructions, and can produce the signals representative of an end of service condition of the filter. A power supply 45, or battery or supplied externally, can be provided inside the compartment to power the sensor conditioning plate 40.

[0018] The sensor conditioning plate 40 can include one or more microprocessor units 140. Each microprocessor unit can include a microprocessor 142 and an associated memory 144. The memory can be volatile, non-volatile, or a combination of both.

[0019] Furthermore, the conditioning plate 40 may include any of a variety of analog signal amplifiers and a signal filter, digital signal processors, and / or other signal conditioning elements to provide a desired signal preconditioned a monitoring station. In one embodiment, these preconditioned signals can be transmitted to a mother unit that contains the appropriate service life calculation algorithm and that is responsible for providing appropriate RLI / ESLI warning information to the user. In another embodiment, these signals are read by a local microcomputer or by a microcontroller unit that is equipped with the appropriate calculation algorithm

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9/23 of the RLI / ESLI and that can give appropriate RLI / ESLI notices to the user. The RLI / ESLI calculation algorithm can use the appropriate disclosure models, such as the one developed by Ding et al., To model the evolution of the contaminant concentration profiles inside the bed and, consequently, to calculate the lifetime filter cartridge based on modeling the evolution process of the contaminant concentration profiles. This process is different from the traditional RLI / ESLI calculation method in that it uses the relevant adsorption process modeling to predict the RLI / ESLI before any disclosure event occurs. As a result, this method can provide proactive RLI / ESLI information much earlier than the actual disclosure event, thus giving the user much more time to act accordingly to avoid health damage.

[0020] In one embodiment, the filter or host mask unit 100 comprises the monitoring station and may include a hard or wireless receiver and the warning or alarm information, which can be triggered when an end condition service life is approaching. The warning information can take the form of any visual, audio or mechanical signals that can be observed and understood by the user. Such warning information can be generated by an electronic unit mounted on the column body of the sensor 10 itself, or on a sensor column host unit such as a mask or a PAPR.

[0021] The preconditioned signals and / or the postconditioned warning signals can take the form of either analog or digital signals or both, and can be transmitted from the sensor column 10 to the host filter / mask via of a communication port 42. The communication port 42 can be a wired or wireless communication port to provide a variety of

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10/23 data from (or over) the sensor devices 20 for the host mask or host filter unit 100. Thus, in one embodiment, the communication port 42 includes a wired connection 41. Alternatively, the communication port may include a wireless transmitter 43 for the wireless transmission of preconditioned signals to the host filter / mask 100. Alternatively, or in addition, the conditioned signals can be transmitted (via device with wireless or wireless) to a separate alarm or monitoring station that is separate from the host filter or host mask unit 100.

[0022] The wired or wireless communication port 42 can provide data exchange between the sensor column 10 and any mother monitoring unit mounted on the host filter / mask 100 or other physical units. The alarm signals, which are transmitted through an appropriate unit and take any form, visual, audio or mechanical, can transmit information from any of, but not limited to, the following: type of filter host, number of host filter part, host filter serial number, date of manufacture, expiration date, previous use, residual life time, expected end of service life, environmental conditions, filter cartridge change signal critical, immediate critical release signal, etc.

[0023] To protect the internal components, which include the signal conditioning plate 40, from the gases that may be present inside the filter 60 during operation, the sensor column 10 can include an end seal 44 to seal the interior of the column compartment of the sensor 14 of the environment. In one embodiment, seal 44 may be an epoxy seal. Alternatively, seal 44 may be a gasket or suitable O-ring.

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11/23 [0024] As noted earlier, communication port 42 can provide digital wired or wireless communication signals to and from a sensor column 10. Digital communication signals may include, without limitation, model parameters, residual life time data and end of life service alert data. The conditioning plate signal 40 may include one or more non-volatile data storage memory units 144 to store this and other information, some or all of which can be modified by means of one or more associated microprocessors 142.

[0025] With reference to FIG. 3, a cross-sectional view of a filter 60 is shown. The filter 60 can include the receiving structure 50 (FIG. 5) for holding the column of the sensor 10 in a desired position with respect to an adjacent sorbent bed 62. The receiving structure 50 may, in one embodiment, form a cylindrical cavity within the sorbent bed 62 and may have one or more sensor holes 18 arranged in a side wall 70, and / or on a top surface 72. These holes 18 can be positioned directly adjacent to the sensors 20 of the sensor column 10 when the column is positioned inside the receiving structure 50. The holes 18 can allow chemical vapor to penetrate into the cavity so that the chemical vapors can be in contact with the sensors 20 of the sensor column.

[0026] In an alternative embodiment, the column of the sensor 10 can form a cavity in the sorbent bed 62 after its insertion in it, without the use of a reception structure. In this embodiment, the column of sensor 10 can form a component part of filter 60. In another alternative embodiment, a cavity can be pre-formed within the sorbent bed 62 of filter 60. In some embodiments, the column of sensor 10 will be fixed to a host 100

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12/23 (for example, a mask, an adapter, or a PAPR unit), and then the combination will be coupled with a filter cartridge 60. When a cartridge 60 is mounted on a host 100 equipped with a column of the sensor, the sensor column 10 is inserted into the cavity of the cartridge sensor column. Where the filter cartridge 60 includes a receiving frame 50 and the cartridge is suitably mounted on host 100, the top 13 of the sensor column 10 will be aligned with the top surface 72 of the mounting frame and each of the side holes of the sensor 18 will be positioned adjacent to the respective sensors 20 and will be sealed from each other by the adjacent sensor seals 30.

[0027] As a foreign object introduced into the sorbent bed, the receiving structure 50 can result in a certain interference with the airflow pattern within the sorbent bed and has a negative effect on the performance of the filter. For example, a small fraction of the air flow can drag through the bed along the wall 50, without being completely in contact with the sorbent material. To prevent this from happening, the receiving structure 50 can be disconnected around the contact surface to block airflow along the surface 50. As can be seen in FIG. 5, illustrating the interior of an empty filter cartridge, in which the receiving structure 50 is integrated into the cartridge, a plurality of disconnected elements 52 surround the receiving structure 50 to prevent the passage of steam through the disconnected area.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 3, the top surface 72 of the receiving structure 50 can be a screen or a protective membrane, to protect the top 13 of the inserted sensor column 10 from particles or liquid contaminants, while still allowing steam to permeate the membrane / screen to be in contact with sensors 24, 26 arranged on top of sensor 10. In one hand

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The filter cartridge 60 includes a protective sealing element which can be broken at the opening of the receiving structure 50 to seal the inside of the receiving structure from the external environment before the insertion of the sensor column 10. The sealing element can be broken by the top 13 of the sensor column 10 when the column is inserted into the receiving structure. This seal allows filter cartridges that have the sensor column receiving cavity built into them to be used in normal air purifying respirators where no sensor column elements are installed.

[0029] In operation, the signal conditioning plate 40 can receive the signals from a plurality of the various sensors arranged in the column of sensor 10. Thus, the humidity and temperature sensors 26 24 at the top of the column of sensor 10 can provide the humidity and temperature signals, while a first chemical sensor 22a can provide the concentration signals on a top part of the sorbent bed 62. The additional chemical sensors 22b, 22c can provide the signals on the vapor concentration chemical at different levels of the sorbent bed. The flow rate sensor 28, which can be mounted on a side wall of the column housing of the sensor 14, adjacent to the outlet of the cartridge 60, can provide the signals representative of the rate of air flow that is drawn into the mask 100 or another host structure.

[0030] The conditioning plate 40 can receive each of these signals and convert them into a desired shape (for example, analog voltage, analog current, digital, digital wireless, or others as a form of transmission). One or more of these signals can be processed by one or more microprocessor units 140 associated with signal conditioning plate 40 prior to transmission to host filter 60 or another receiver via Portion 870190059167, 06/26/2019, p. . 17/39

14/23 communication port 42.

[0031] Now, with reference to FIG. 4, the sensor column 10 is shown engaged with a filter cartridge assembly 60 and a mask body 100. As can be seen, a lower portion 12 of the sensor column 10 engages a part of the mask body 100, while a top part 13 of the column is received inside the filter cartridge 60. Thus arranged, the cartridge 60 is mounted on the host 100, the column of the sensor 10 can serve as an assembly guide to facilitate the correct assembly of the cartridge 60 on the host 100. In one embodiment, the sensor column 10 can be initially mounted on the filter cartridge 60 and can be inserted into the body of mask 100, the cartridge is mounted on the body of mask 100. In another embodiment, the column of the mask sensor 10 can initially be mounted on the mask body 100 and can be inserted into the filter cartridge 60 as the cartridge is mounted on the mask body 100.

[0032] The column of sensor 10 may have one or more chemical sensors, shown as 22a-c, as an example modality, mounted along the length of compartment 14, for one or more of the temperature and humidity sensors 24, 26 mounted on the top 13 of the compartment 14, and a flow rate sensor 28 mounted adjacent to the bottom 12 of the compartment. Each of the chemical sensors 22a-c can be isolated from each other by means of a pair of adjacent sensor gaskets 30. Inside the column of sensor 10 there may be a signal conditioning plate 40, which functions as a preconditioner for signal for chemical, humidity, temperature and flow rate sensors. The preconditioned signals can be transmitted from a sensor column 10 via a wired or wireless connection as previously described. The internal volume of the

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15/23 sensor 10, which includes signal conditioning plate 40, can be sealed from the surrounding environment by an end cap 44 (see FIG. 6) to the sealed compartment 14 using epoxy, or a gasket or O-ring.

[0033] In one embodiment, the host 100 (for example, a mask, an adapter, or a PAPR unit) is equipped with a sensor column 10, and a filter cartridge 60 is provided separately. Thus, when cartridge 60 is mounted on host 100, the column of sensor 10 is aligned with the receiving structure 50 of cartridge 60 to guide cartridge 60 downwards in engagement with host 100. Once cartridge 60 is mounted suitably in host 100, the top of the sensor column 10 aligns with the top surface 72 of the receiving structure 50. As noted earlier, this top surface 72 can be a screen or a membrane that allows temperature sensors and humidity 24, 26 capture relevant information about the filter during operation. In this position, each of the holes on the side of the sensor 18 is centrally positioned relative to each of the plurality of chemical sensors 22a-22c, and sealed from the adjacent chemical sensors by means of a pair of associated sensor seals 30.

[0034] In one embodiment, the invention includes the sensor device 10 for indicating the end of service life that has the column compartment of the sensor 14 for insertion directly into the sorbent bed 62 of the filter cartridge 60. The compartment 14 it can be formed to fit within a cavity that has been formed within the sorbent bed 62. The cavity can be preformed in the bed prior to insertion of the sensor 14 column compartment. Alternatively, the cavity can be formed in the bed through the process of inserting compartment 14 into the sorbent bed 62.

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16/23 [0035] In additional modalities, the compartment 14 can be supplied alone as a part of the filter cartridge 60, positioned inside a cavity in the sorbent bed 62. The internal components of the sensor column 10 can then be inserted in compartment 14 to position the sensors 20 in desired positions within the sorbent bed 62.

[0036] As noted earlier, chemical sensors 22a22c are sealed to each other through seals 30, which results in individual steam chambers associated with each sensor, and each of sensors 22a 22c has access to the vapor space within the filter 60 through an associated orifice 18 (see FIG. 3). The individual steam chambers can be formed by the outer surface of the compartment 14, a region of the inner surface of the receiving structure 50 of the filter cartridge 60, and a pair of seals 30. Alternatively, chemical sensors 22 to 22c can share a common steam space, allowing a channel for effective steam flow between them.

[0037] In some embodiments, holes 18 are positioned in such a way that the maximum concentration level to which the chemical sensors are exposed will not be reached at the end of the service life, in order to protect the chemical sensor from being exposed to too much high chemical concentration levels to avoid or minimize saturation with contaminant in the environment.

[0038] FIG. 7 shows an alternative embodiment of the sensor column 150 that has an external configuration that is different from the sensor column 100 of FIG. 1A. The sensor column 150 of the present embodiment can have any and / or all the functional characteristics of the sensor column 10 described in relation to FIGS. 1 to 6. For example, the sensor column 150 can include openings 116 in compartment 114 to allow sensors arranged inside the

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17/23 compartment to access environmental and / or toxic conditions outside the column compartment of sensor 114. In contrast to the embodiment of FIG. 1A, the openings 116 of the sensor column 150 are positioned at or near the distal end 152 of the sensor column 150. The distal end 152 will be that part of the sensor column 150 that is positioned inside the filter cartridge 60 (see FIG. 4) in use.

[0039] The sensor column 150 can also include a communication port 154 arranged at a proximal end 156 of the sensor column 150 to allow the signals generated by the sensors arranged in compartment 114 to be communicated to the host filter or the host mask unit 100 (see FIG. 4). In the illustrated embodiment, that communication port 154 includes a wired portion 158. As with the embodiment of FIG. 1A, communication port 154 can be wired or wireless.

[0040] Between the distal and proximal ends 152, 156, 114, the housing may include a key-shaped outer geometry 158 for engaging a portion of the mask body 100 to position the distal end 152 of the column within the filter cartridge 60 .

[0041] As noted, the sensor column 150 of FIG. 7 includes any or all of the characteristics of the sensor column 10 described in relation to FIGs. 1 to 6. FIG. 7 of the modality illustrates that the external configuration of the sensor column can take any of a variety of desired external shapes.

[0042] FIG. 8 is a graph illustrating the representative experimental data of example of the performance of the sensor column as an end-of-service (ESLI) indicator for a hydrogen sulfide of the filter cartridge. The graph is an illustration of the hydrogen sulphide gas concentration (in parts per million) over time (in minutes), and shows the effectiveness of the sen column

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18/23 sor for the detection of hydrogen sulphide gas before the development of the filter. The sensor detects the presence of the chemical before a chemical sensor is placed at the filter outlet. As can be seen, the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for hydrogen sulfide, 10 ppm, is detected at 26.2 minutes, which is 137 minutes before the chemical breaks the filter at this concentration. [0043] Table 1 below shows sample laboratory data that demonstrates that the sensor column is able to detect specific chemicals before the filter breaks, and that the filter break with the sensor column does not degrade in more than 11% globally for the chemicals presented. The average penetration time for all five experiments is 95.5 minutes without the sensor column, called the baseline. The average penetration time for all five experiments is 84.8 minutes with the sensor column, called an output filter. The degradation is less than or equal to 11%, as measured by these tests.

Table 1

Chemical product UR (%) Conc. (ppm) tb, sensor column tb, filter output tb, baseline C6H12 50 1000 10.0 47.8 65.0 80 1000 3.0 40.2 48.2 H2S 50 1000 26.2 163.3 186.8 NH3 50 1000 5.9 48.2 47.6 50 300 26.8 124.7 130.0

[0044] The data presented in table 2 below demonstrate the effectiveness of the sensor column when coupled with an ESLI evaluation calculation and the impact of the sensor's location with the forecast accuracy over time. Due to regulatory standards, the assessed ESLI should not be more than 90% of the measured ESLI. In all the cases presented below, this is the case. The ESLI au assessment

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19/23 with time and depends on the location of the sensor. FIG. 9 graphs the sensor's detected concentration over time, which includes the ESLI forecast at different times and the measured revelations.

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Table 2

Chemical product UR,% Flow, l / min Location Parameter Time (min.) Ammonia 50 64 % depth of sorbent bed Time (min.) 20 30 40 50 Rated ESLI (min.) 74 58 58 58 Measured ESLI (min.) 62 H2S 50 64 % depth of sorbent bed Time (min.) 20 25 30 35 40 Rated ESLI (min.) 28 36 41 42 42 Measured ESLI (min.) 46 H2S 25 64 % depth of sorbent bed Time (min.) 20 25 30 35 40 Rated ESLI (min.) 28 32 34 35 42 Measured ESLI (min.) 41 H2S 85 64 % depth of sorbent bed Time (min.) 20 25 30 35 40 Rated ESLI (min.) 30 36 34 50 42 Current ESLI (min) 47.5 H2S 50 85 % depth of sorbent bed Time (min.) 15 20 25 27 Rated ESLI (min.) 24 29 35 37 Measured ESLI (min.) 33 H2S 50 50 1/3 depth of sorbent bed Time (min.) 20 40 60 80 100 Rated ESLI (min.) 43 70 84 85 82 Measured ESLI (min.) 121

20/23

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21/23 [0045] The illustrated modalities are described as using a single column of sensor 10 with a single filter cartridge 60. It will be noted, however, that more than one column of sensor 10 can be used with a single filter cartridge 60. In addition, although the sensor column 10 has been described with a certain array of sensors, it will be noted that a variety of different types of sensors, configurations and numbers can be used to provide a desired detection platform. In addition, it is not essential that all sensors provide data to the signal conditioning board at the same rate, nor that all sensors in the sensor column are used at the same time. Thus, it is considered that a single column of the sensor may include a plurality of sensors, and that the programming of the signal conditioning plate 40 may be such that only the signals from the determined sensor are used for a specific application of the filter cartridge.

[0046] The illustrated modalities are described as a cylindrical body that is inserted into a corresponding cylindrical hole. It will be noted, however, that the sensor device can have any geometric shape, such as a square or rectangular stem, a hexagonal stem, etc., as long as it can be incorporated into the bed and removed freely without damage to the body. filter. In addition, depending on the geometry of the object filter, the sensor device may not need to be inserted into a container orifice, instead, it may be partially embedded in a receptacle space, or connected from the side of the filter, provided that the sensors are exposed to the medium at a desired bed depth.

[0047] Some modalities of the method and the described device can be implemented, for example, with the use of a storage medium, a computer-readable medium, or with an article of manufacture that can store an instruction or a set of

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22/23 instructions that, if executed by a machine, can cause the equipment to perform a method and / or operations according to the presentation modalities. Such a machine can include, for example, any suitable processing platform, computing platform, computing device, processing device, computing system, processing system, computer processor, or the like, and can be implemented using any suitable combination of hardware and / or software. The computer-readable medium or article may include, for example, any suitable type of memory unit, the memory device, the memory article, the memory medium, the storage device, the storage article, the storage medium and / or the storage unit, for example, memory (which includes non-transitory memory), removable or non-removable media, erasable or non-erasable media, recordable or rewritable media, digital or analog media, hard drive, floppy disk, read-only compact disc (CD-ROM), recordable compact disc (CD-R), rewritable compact disc (CD-RW), optical disc, magnetic media, optical magnetic media, removable memory cards or discs , various types of Digital Versatile Disc (DVD), a tape, a cassette tape, or the like. Instructions can include any suitable type of code, such as source code, compiled code, interpreted code, executable code, static code, dynamic code, encrypted code and the like implemented using any appropriate interpreted programming language. high level, low object level, oriented, visual and / or compiled.

[0048] Although certain types of description have been described here, it is not intended that the presentation be limited to it, since it is intended that the presentation be as wide in scope as the technique allows and that the description be read from the

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23/23 same way. Therefore, the description above should not be construed as limiting, but only as examples of specific modalities. Those skilled in the art will foresee further modifications within the scope and spirit of the attached claims.

Claims (16)

1. Sensor device (10) for indicating end of service life, characterized by the fact that it comprises: a compartment (14) having an outer surface, a longitudinal cavity, and at least one opening (116) along the outer surface, where the compartment (14) is removably insertable in a cavity in a sorbent bed (62 ) of a filter element (60); a sensor (20) for detecting one or more chemicals, the sensor (20) positioned inside the longitudinal cavity adjacent to at least one opening (116); a sensor conditioning plate (40) for processing sensor data from the sensor (20); a power supply (45) for supplying the sensor conditioning plate (40); and a receiving structure configured to be positioned in the cavity in the sorbent bed (62), wherein the receiving structure (50) extends the length of the sorbent bed (62) of the filter element (60), the receiving structure (50) receiving a portion of the compartment (14) thereof, wherein the receiving structure (50) includes at least one opening (116) extending from an interior of the receiving structure (50) to an exterior of the structure receiving area (50), the opening (116) configured to allow vapor flow from the sorbent bed (62) to at least one opening (116) of the compartment (14) when the compartment (14) is placed inside the reception structure (50). 2. Sensor device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor (20) comprises one or more sensors of chemical concentration (22) positioned along a length of said compartment (14), each of the said Petition 870190059167, of 06/26/2019, p. 28/39 2/4 sensors (22) associated with an opening (116) in said compartment (14). Sensor device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one opening (116) is located at a distal end (152) of the compartment (14) away from a fixation point of mask. 4. Sensor device (10), according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that it still comprises an environmental sensor package inside the longitudinal cavity of the compartment (14) having at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of a chemical concentration sensor (22), a temperature sensor (24), a relative humidity sensor (26) and a flow rate sensor (28). 5. Sensor device (10) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that it still comprises an external seal (30) along a circumference of the compartment (14), said external seal (30) to seal the outer surface of the compartment for the receiving structure. Sensor device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor (20) comprises a plurality of chemical concentration sensors (22) positioned along a length of said compartment (14), the device (10) further comprising a plurality of seals (30), at least one of said seals (30) positioned adjacent the outer surface of the compartment (14) to isolate the chemical concentration sensors (22) from each other. 7. Sensor device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor conditioning plate (40) includes a processor (142) and a memory (144), the processor (142) configured for execute instructions to determine Petition 870190059167, of 06/26/2019, p. 29/39 3/4 a service life of said sorbent bed (62) of said filter element (60). Sensor device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiving structure (50) includes a membrane in a top part (72) of it to isolate one end of the compartment (14) of particulate or liquid contaminants in the sorbent bed (62), but allowing gas permeation. 9. Sensor device (10) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the compartment (14) includes a mechanical connection for fixing to an inhalation valve support of a support member of a breathing system (100 ). 10. Sensor device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the compartment (14) includes a mechanical connection for fixing to a mask inhalation valve holder (100). Sensor device (10) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that it still comprises a vapor barrier to isolate the conditioning plate (40) from chemical contaminants. 12. Sensor device (10) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the power supply (45) is selected from the group consisting of a battery and an external power supply (45). 13. Sensor device (10), according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the receiving structure (50) includes a surface close to the sorbent bed (62) that is disconnected to avoid channeling the vapor contaminants. 14. Sensor device (10) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the compartment (14) is located Petition 870190059167, of 06/26/2019, p. 30/39 4/4 tends from a front part of the filter bed (60) so that a sensor port is positioned towards an inlet of the sorbent bed (62). 15. Sensor device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor device (10) is configured to transmit information related to a residual life span, including, but not limited to, sensor signals preconditioned and postconditioned model signals, like an analog electrical signal, like a digital electrical signal anyway, a mechanical signal, a visual signal, or an audio signal. 16. Sensor device (10) for indicating end of service life, characterized by the fact that it comprises: a compartment (14) having an outer surface, a longitudinal cavity, and at least one opening (116) along the outer surface, where the compartment (14) is removably insertable in a cavity in a sorbent bed (62 ) of a filter element (60); a sensor (20) for detecting one or more chemicals, the sensor (20) positioned inside the longitudinal cavity adjacent to at least one opening (116); a sensor conditioning plate (40) for processing sensor data from the sensor (20), wherein the sensor (20) comprises a plurality of chemical concentration sensors (22) positioned along a length of said compartment (14) ; a plurality of seals (30), at least one of said seals (30) positioned adjacent the outer surface of the compartment (14) to isolate the chemical concentration sensors (22) from each other; and a power supply (45) for supplying the sensor conditioning plate (40).